Senior Research Fellow

The Oxford-Reynolds Freedom Project is seeking to recruit and appoint a Senior Research Fellow to lead the Project’s academic and applied research activities.

The Oxford-Reynolds Freedom Project is dedicated to understanding and advancing the complementary roles of business, philanthropy, and activism in supporting freedom and democracy globally. Modelled on the Skoll Centre’s approach to connecting research, education, and community-building, the Project has three core components:

• Actionable research that produces academic and practical outputs on the role of business and philanthropy in catalysing the systemic changes needed to support free and democratic societies
• A biennial learning intervention that provides an opportunity to study how business leaders, philanthropists, and activists can develop the capacity to collaborate across sectoral boundaries
• A biennial global convening that will enable knowledge exchange across a broader community of scholars and practitioners working in the freedom and democracy space

As Senior Research Fellow of the Reynolds Project, the post holder will oversee the research activities, reporting directly to the Academic Director. The post holder should be well-recognised in their field of research and capable of managing an externally funded research project.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead, in collaboration with the Academic Director, a programme of research and develop research questions within a discrete area of a broader research agenda
• Contribute to establishing the strategic direction for the Project’s research agenda in collaboration with the Academic Director and other faculty involved in the Project
• In collaboration with the Academic Director regularly write and publish research articles in peer reviewed FT50 journals as well as relevant practitioner outlets
• Provide academic supervision and coaching for early career research colleagues involved in the Project
• Promote the research Project, including by disseminating research outcomes to advance knowledge in the specialist area and by representing the Project at external meetings and seminars
• Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions and research groups
• Develop ideas for generating research income and promoting the research area and write funding applications for specific avenues of independent research
• Line-manage the Project’s research staff
• Oversee the Project’s research budget, engaging the Academic Director as appropriate
• Collaborate with relevant colleagues across the School and University to ensure integration across the research and learning
• Project Deputise for the Academic Director as needed in externally facing Project matters

Please open the attached 'Job Description' document below to view the full information for this post, including the essential and desirable selection criteria.

Once you have reviewed this document, you may apply for the post by clicking the 'Apply Now' button below. The deadline for applications is 12:00 midday (BST) on Monday 13th April 2026. Interviews will be held virtually and likely take place across Thursday 16th and Friday 17th April 2026.

Pay Scale: RESEARCH GRADE 9

Salary: £56,623 - £65,336

Vacancy ID: 185839

Contact Email: facultyrecruitment@sbs.ox.ac.uk